Legerity, Inc., the "V" in VoIP, announced at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) the availability of the company's PhonePort family of products that enable carrier-class VoIP on the PC. The first two members of the family are the HD and PCI voice interface devices. The HD device provides phone connectivity for next-generation motherboards. Similar to the HD device, the PCI solution offers phone connectivity to the PC through a PCI card, with an immediate time to market and design flexibility advantage for the PC vendor.

The new Legerity solutions enable customers to plug their current phone into a pre-configured VoIP-enabled PC and begin using a VoIP service. The Phone-Ready PC will enable easier deployment of Internet telephony services to consumers, as well as small to medium businesses (SMBs). This deployment will decrease the cost of subscriber acquisition and increase revenues across the value chain.

• PC vendors can increase revenue by offering incremental voice services.
• VoIP Service Providers (VSPs) have access to a large new customer base with a lower cost of customer acquisition.
• Softphone vendors can sell integrated instant messaging, voice and video solutions through a new channel.
• The consumer can receive significant discounts on a new PC with a pre-configured voice service.

"VoIP telephony through PCs will become increasingly common as users demand enhanced calling features such as conference calling, multiple telephone numbers and unified messaging," said Joe Gruber, ecosystem marketing director of Intel. "We're delighted with Legerity's efforts to bring low-cost solutions to the market that improve ease-of-use for PC VoIP calling."

"Skype has already proven the PC VoIP business model. Legerity PhonePort solutions expand this model into the default PC configuration and by allowing the mainstream consumer to use their current familiar phone," said Shoaib Mohammad, director of business development at Legerity. "The PhonePort family provides the most effective VoIP-enabled PC implementation by populating voice interface ICs directly on the motherboard using an Intel High Definition Audio (HD Audio) digital interface or on a PCI card for supplemental sales offerings."

The PhonePort HD device, Le98136, provides the complete carrier class phone connectivity in highly integrated single device architecture. The device offers Automatic Country Code Configuration support to meet worldwide telecommunications requirements, integrated switching power supply to provide optimal line voltage and power consumption management, and integrated power management features to support PC instant-on capabilities. Built in HD Audio interface allows it to reside directly on a motherboard or on a HD Audio add-in card.

The PhonePort PCI solution using Le96136, provides complete carrier-class phone connectivity using a PCI adapter card turnkey solution for fast time-to-market and an easy path for future enhancements. The solution supports Microsoft Windows VoIP-enabled applications, with a Microsoft WHQL certified driver.

Legerity's solutions offer PC vendors the flexibility and quick time to market deployment of both PCI and HD adapter modules and a roadmap to develop the next generation PhonePort HD solution directly on the motherboard. Ultimately, the new PC will come pre-configured with Voice over IP service allowing consumers to simply plug in their current phone into the new Phone-Ready PC and start using the VoIP service.

"The analog phone provides a familiar interface that appeals to a majority of users," said Jeff Pulver, chairman of pulver.com. "Having the PC pre-configured with VoIP with a 'Try before you buy' approach is sure to entice the average consumer who may still be unaware of the benefits or maturity of VoIP."

Legerity's PhonePort HD evaluation line module (Le71HE0901) and PhonePort PCI solution (Le71HR0911) are available today. Demonstrations of PhonePort VoIP-ready PC solutions will be held in the Legerity booth #329 at the Intel Developer Forum tradeshow starting March 7 in San Francisco, CA and at the upcoming VON Spring tradeshow in booth #234 starting March 14 in San Jose, CA.